[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata party! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas
In the lead-up to Tanabata on July 7, nursery schools and kindergartens decorate bamboo branches and hold Tanabata gatherings together.
For those wondering, “What kind of performance should we do for this year’s Tanabata event?”, here are a variety of ideas! From songs and picture books to paper puppet shows, black theater, and even a planetarium, there are many special activities that children will enjoy.
Use these suggestions for your program, and have a wonderful Tanabata that both children and adults can enjoy.
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[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata parties! Fun, crowd-pleasing performance ideas (11–20)
handbell
How about giving a sparkling, delightful handbell performance, like stars shining in the Tanabata night sky? Recommended pieces include Tanabata-sama, which sings of the Tanabata scene, as well as When You Wish Upon a Star and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, which are songs about the stars.
Assign about 2–4 bells per person and give it a try.
Rather than swinging your wrist vigorously, one tip is to move as if gently tapping with a light, crisp motion.
You can also produce a continuous, shimmering sound by gently rocking the bell, so try incorporating that at the end of a piece and other fitting moments.
Evening Cool-Off Gathering and Bon Odori
Speaking of summer, it’s got to be Bon Odori! You often see it at summer festivals, right? So how about hosting an evening cool-off event in hot July and trying Bon Odori with the kids? Put on cute yukata, hold fans in your hands, and dance like it’s a fun routine.
There are surprisingly many Bon Odori songs for children, including ones themed around popular characters.
If you prepare cold drinks and snacks, it’ll become one of your wonderful summer memories.
And starting the event in the evening might feel fresh and exciting for the kids, too.
July fingerplay “Tanabata”
A fun summer event, the Tanabata Festival.
People tie paper strips with their wishes to bamboo leaves and decorate them beautifully.
The Tanabata festival, where you can enjoy the stars in the night sky, is surely something children look forward to with excitement.
To make the Tanabata mood even livelier, let’s sing Tanabata songs with hand-play motions.
The choreography includes gestures that express sparkling stars and hand movements that represent the Milky Way, so children can enjoy doing hand-play while singing.
Singing together makes the Tanabata feeling even stronger.
Panel theater
How about introducing the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi with a panel theater? A panel theater, performed on a board covered with special panel fabric, captures children’s interest just like picture-story shows or puppet plays.
In a panel theater, you place and remove character and object pieces on the panel according to the flow of the story.
When telling the Tanabata tale, prepare pieces for Orihime and Hikoboshi, of course, as well as the Milky Way, Hikoboshi’s cow, stars, and more.
By sticking on and taking off the pieces, the scenes change clearly, making it easier for children to understand the story of Tanabata.
paper puppet theater
Let’s use paper theater puppets (peep-sart) to help children learn about the Tanabata story! A paper theater puppet is a paper-made figure that you move like in a puppet show to tell a story.
One of its charms is that you can attach a stick and give the puppet different expressions on each side—like a smiling face on the front and an angry face on the back.
Because the story unfolds as you move the puppets, it keeps children engaged.
You can present it puppet-show style, bringing the puppets up from beneath a large table, or you can create a backdrop and perform in front of it.
It’s a perfect activity for letting children experience the Tanabata story in a clear and enjoyable way.
Picture Book ‘The Tanabata Story’
Let’s try telling children the story of Tanabata using the picture book “Tanabata Monogatari.” Even if some children know that Tanabata is linked to the tale of Orihime and Hikoboshi, it can be hard to picture the story just by listening.
By using a picture book and showing the illustrations as you tell the tale, children can gain a better understanding of Tanabata.
After reading, it’s also recommended to set aside time to think together by asking questions such as what they thought about Orihime’s and Hikoboshi’s actions, and whether they have someone very important to them like Orihime and Hikoboshi do.
[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata events! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas (21–30)
Magic Show
Let’s liven up the Tanabata party by performing magic that will amaze the kids! Rather than forcing yourself to tackle something complex and difficult, it’s better to choose simple tricks that capture their interest.
For example, just using items the children are familiar with, toys they like, or colorful props will draw their attention.
And when something is about to change, have everyone chant together—like, “Let’s cast a spell together!”—so it feels like you’re doing the magic with them; that makes it even more fun.
You could also use Orihime, Hikoboshi, or star-themed props to match the Tanabata theme!